Cruising the Galapagos Islands with Sanctuary Retreats

There is simply nowhere like the Galapagos and the barren landscapes of these remote islands have not lost any of their haunting beauty since Darwin's days. Our expedition vessel is the best ship in these waters - ideal for those looking for a serious adventure.

Located 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos archipelago consists of some 19 islands and more than 40 islets, created six million years ago when they emerged from the Pacific in a flurry of  volcanic activity.

Each island forms a unique ecosystem, a series of specialised relationships that have adapted to the volcanic nature of these isolated islands. As a result, the Galapagos Islands are home to a wide variety of endemic species. From albatrosses to sea lions, pelicans to iguanas, cormorants, flamingoes, sharks, whales and the tortoises that gave the islands their name - there is jaw-dropping wildlife in action at every turn.

The islands were discovered in 1535 by Tomás de Berlanga who sent the first known description of the Galapagos to the King of Spain, describing the scene before him as “...nothing but seals, and turtles, and such big tortoises that each could carry a man on top of itself, and many iguanas that are like serpents”. He also remarked on the tameness of the creatures: “...so silly that they do not know to flee, and many were caught in the hand”.

Perhaps our first association with the word "Galapagos" is the name "Darwin" – and for good reason. He sailed into the Galapagos Islands in 1835 on board the Beagle and was amazed by the extraordinary life he found on the islands. Having collected important samples and facts, in 1859 Darwin consolidated his observations to develop and sustain his theory of evolution and natural selection, drastically and controversially altering western thought on the very nature of nature.

There is simply nowhere like the Galapagos Islands. This is one of the last wildernesses on Earth and the barren landscapes of these remote islands have not lost any of their haunting beauty since Darwin’s days.

Cruising in the Galapagos?

Time Zone

GMT - 6 hours, one hour behind Ecuador's mainland.

Language

Ecuador's official language is Spanish, but English is spoken in major visitor centres. Both Spanish and English are spoken onboard the M.V. Eclipse.

Currency

Ecuador's currency is the US Dollar.

Money Matters

Currency exchange facilities are open on weekdays and on Saturday mornings. ATM's are not available in remote areas in Ecuador, but are easily found throughout the main cities. There are no ATM facilities in the Galapagos Islands. Onboard the Eclipse, the following are accepted for payments over US $50: travellers cheques, Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

Tipping

We recommend an amount in the range of US $100 - 200 per passenger per week for the crew (this will be divided among all the crew members) and between US $40 - 80 per passenger per week for the guide. The total tip would therefore be somewhere between US $140 - 280 per per passenger. However, this is merely a suggestion as we consider gratuities to be a very personal matter.

Arrival & Departure Formalities

All visitors to Ecuador must have a passport valid for at least six months. Upon entry, visitors are required to complete an international embarkation / disembarkation card. Keep this card in your passport, as you will be required to hand it back when leaving the country. No visa is required for a temporary visit (up to 90 days) related to tourism, business or study for citizens of the United States, Canada and most European countries. Upon departure from Ecuador, there is a tax of US$40.80 leaving from Quito airport and US$25.00 leaving from Guayaquil airport.

Weather

December to June is the hot season with occasional tropical showers. Temperatures range from 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 90°F). July to November is the dry (garúa) season with strong winds. Temperatures range from 20°C to 27°C (68°F to 80°F).

Click here for Temperature & Rainfall Charts.

Health

No inoculations are required for entry to Ecuador. However, travellers with heart conditions or high blood pressure who will be arriving in Quito before continuing to the Galapagos Islands should check with their physicians about high altitude travel prior to travel.

Good medical care is available in major cities. However, we suggest seeing your doctor at least 4 weeks before your trip to allow time for immunisations to take effect. The following vaccines are recommended: Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG), Typhoid and booster doses for Tetanus-Diphtheria and Measles.
 
For Galapagos, guests should be in good physical health, due to the fact that the daily nature treks may include walking on irregular and elevated terrain. Getting in and out of the zodiacs occasionally requires some physical effort and some of the landings are on wet and slippery lava rocks. If a passenger suffers from any medical condition, we advise him/her to consult a physician prior to booking the cruise.

Electricity

110 volts, 60 cycles AC is used. Most outlets are for two flat prongs. Onboard the M.V. Eclipse all cabins have both 110 & 220 volt electrical outlets.

Photography

The main rule when visiting the Galapagos Islands is “take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints”. If you wish to take close-up photos of the animals, please always stay on the trails that are marked out by the National Park Service, don’t step off the trail. Do not use flash photography for close-up animal shots. We recommend disposable underwater cameras for capturing amazing shots during snorkelling.

Clothing

There is no formal dress code on board, but we require that shoes, shirts and trousers/shorts be worn in the lounge, dining room and library. We also require that gentlemen wear long trousers for dinner. Bring plenty of T-shirts, fast drying slacks, shorts, wind-breaker, sweater in the cooler months, hat with a brim and string, walking shoes/boots, sandals, and loafers for on board.

Additional information

The Eclipse is equipped with a satellite phone for emergency calls. Internet service is currently unavailable on board; however, during your visit to Puerto Ayora, Internet cafés will be available and national and international calls can be made using the local telephone company.

Journeys in Galapagos Islands